Tag Archives: study abroad

I am sure that it has been noticed before already:
where two Europeans or Latinos greet each other with a kiss/peck on each cheek.
…
I remember thinking that I could not do that and would feel super shy about it,
but I have adapted to it already and learned something interesting about it.
…
If you do not know of it, basically “Due Baci” (Dos besos) is a form of greeting that is common.
Rather than shaking hands, waving, or just simply saying “Hello”,
Italians (Europeans) say Ciao! (or any other form of Hello) and then proceed to kind of do this like
hug thing while kissing (with their cheeks mainly, not lips on the cheek) each cheek while making that kissing sound.
…
There is a slight difference in Italy compared to the rest of Europe concerning this
“2 Kiss” or Due Baci.
…
In Italy, you start with a kiss on the Right and then the Left.
On the otherhand, in the rest of Europe (mostly), you start with the Left and the Right.
So it could probably get awkward and confusing if this is not known of beforehand.
…
This seems to contribute to how Europeans are so open, touchy, and comfortable with each other,
even strangers, while in America and especially Asia, there is this like “comfort zone bubble of do not enter” around us.

Note: It seems that the only locals that truly welcome a foreigner are the mosquitos. They truly love my blood…

A week has passed in Rome.Feels like it has been so much longer than that.

As I turned on the boiler/heater before taking my shower (you have to heat up the water and wait quite a while), I began to just think about back home.
I had been avoiding thinking about home, family – and I had been trying to have minimal contact with family in order to prevent my homesickness. I did not want to hold back my family nor have them worry about me.
…I did not want to cry…
…..
The water was still cold even after 15 minutes
…Eff it, I will just take the shower. It will be healthy for me anyways and perhaps numb some of the pain.
…
People seem to always want to get out of their parents’ home and live on their own and yes that is fine; however, I do not think that they really realize how precious their time is being a dependent.
I have not had such an urge since I like living with my family and already felt like I have the home to myself as I am usually home alone when I am there.

Then there are those that cannot stand their dorm rooms because of this and that and that is fine and all, but once again they do not realize how easy they have it
(and this time I include myself in that crowd).

Almost all of the living necessities are provided.
You do not have to worry about setting up and paying the bills,
buying groceries, appliances, and kitchenware,
buying toilet paper, trash bags, detergent (well dorms yes, but hear me out),
cleaning the windows, walls, trashcans,
and so much more.
…Wanting to become independent is definitely a good thing and part of growing up and I am all up for it which is why I came abroad.

However, I definitely did not expect this feeling of being thrown somewhere.
I thought that living in an apartment rather than a dorm room or homestay would be awesome since I would have my own kitchen and the freedom to do what I want.
But then there are the cons and there is that one fact.
…
I am in a foreign country where I do not speak the language and where the currency is different.

Everything is more expensive here.
I have to buy my own toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags, etc.
I have to figure out what some foods are here and how to even purchase them.
The way groceries are bought is different here.

I cannot be too loud during a certain time period.
I cannot have guests over for too long.
All because the rules are different here.
You also do not know when your next food or drink will come at times.
Not everything can be found in one place like Target, Costco, or Walmart.
You do not know what some stores are or where to get things.
…One thing that I had decided was that I was not going to be like some of the others here:complaining to my family and demanding care packages.I am not going to expect any or request for any because I know how expensive it is.I will find what I need and will get them myself.It is not because I am stubborn or just want to rely on my self.I just do not want to worry my family or have them concern over me.I came here to become more independent after all.And I know where this money came from.I will spend it well, not recklessly.…
I realized that Americans are so spoiled in everyday life.
We really are.
…
I could see vividly the image of my mother coming home lugging bags and bags of food and mainly fruit because she knows how much I love fruit. And I would complain that she bought too much once again when she only wanted to satisfy me especially before I left.

But now it is like, damn, why did I complain?
It was such a privilege and she did it all out of love.
She does everything out of love.
And I learned all that and knew and know that even during my stay in the dorm room.
But now that everything is becoming even more like the “real”, independent life
…Aw frickin A, I cannot stop crying…crap.…
I am noticing even more the little details that I should be thankful for.
I never thought that I am a super spoiled child although I know that I am in comparison to those who are starving. But I seriously am so blessed.
I really did take things for granted that I thought I did not.
I am just like everyone else that I did not want to become like.
I am a hypocrite.
…
I am spoiled.
…
complaing, being dissatisfied, getting angry at my mother when she does so much for me.
She always says that I will only know when I grow older, only know when it is too late, when she is gone from this earth
…
I guess I am glad that I know now before she passes. which I def do not want to think about.
She is turing 60 soon…
I always see her as this energetic, bubbly, young woman
…
I always see her as my friend.
But I really do need to realize that she is right.
I need to treat her better because I do have goals for my family that I wish to achieve.
I should have cooked for her, like legit.
I should not have focused so much on “being healthy”, losing weight, being in my own depressed world, watching korean variety shows.
When she actually wanted to go out for a walk, I should have.

I can not stop sobbing now, but I need to write this all out.

I know that it will get better.
I just hope that I will not take her for granted again.
I told myself I would not after realizing crap during freshman year of college…
I failed.

Being in a foreign country is hard.
Not knowing anybody in that country is hard.
Living alone is hard.
Being in a foreign country while living alone and knowing few people is
…
Well…fill in the blank.
……..
Although as of now, it seems that the only solution once again is to just keep me constantly busy so that I am too exhausted to even think about family.
But that will wear and tear down my body and mind all over again…
But I know it will get better.
***Love you mom…

So I am currently studying abroad in Rome, Italy. Obviously there to learn some recipes and such for this website 😉 But actually, I am. So I will not be posting on here most likely for a few months, but there are plenty of food pics and things about Rome (plus basically my honest thoughts which I guess I do not care who reads or hears or judges since I am just laying myself out here on the open internet) in my study abroad website:

It’s one of those things – those moments where you just feel a sudden connection/attachment to someone. I guess it’s also since we both have a lot of 정 (which is like feeling/emotion/love/affection/compassion/sentiment/passion/sympathy/heart …yes I took that from the dictionary.)

His dad and my dad have been friends to the point of calling each other “brother” for about 10 years and counting. I remember meeting my dad’s friend years ago and this time him and his family came to America to visit because his first son was going to attend the rest of his high school years in America.

When we first all met at my sister’s home, it was a bit awkward. Him and his younger brother could speak fairly good English while the parents could not. I could tell that they found Alexis adorable because she was so excited. And you can definitely tell who are good people because it’s not to everyone that she is that friendly or gets that happy and excited, bouncing up and down. (especially since she’s usually only sort of open to Koreans, but these people are not Korean.)

We all decided to meet for dinner that day (excluding my sis and Mike due to schedule conflict). We all ate in J.Zhou Oriental Cuisine in a private room where each dish was presented and then served to us. The food was all excellent including: Abalone, King Crab, some sort of bone marrow looking thing that was delish, and so many more dishes that I do not know the names of. I sat next to the younger brother and we chatted a bit and stuff.

He’s so adorable! The way he was calling me jiejie and serving me some food and tea. So much energy!

I asked them what their dreams are and they told me.

It’s amazing how he has his dream and is striving toward it already…

And he really is because we met about a week later (yesterday) and talked again. So he was homesick and wanted to meet my dad, his “American dad” (how cute) and they spent the day together. After church, I went with my mother to have dinner with him and my dad. We ate at DooRe Restaurant (Korean food) and it was really good as well.

What an amazing appetite he has. How is he still so skinny/fit? Glad that he’s enjoying the food so well though.

We relayed questions and answers off of each other and it was just really nice. It really felt like he is my brother.

There’s some unspoken as well as spoken thing that those two boys are my younger brothers. His family and my family both say it.

My daddy and didi walking together all chummy. Had to catch a pic of them~ so candid

After dinner, he came back to our place to have some fruit and I excitedly showed him my yearbook elementary pictures. I don’t know why I was so excited, but somehow I just wanted to show him, my brother. Then, my mom excitedly showed him videos on YouTube of me singing the national anthem and performing in Zipper Hall. He was surprised and said that I must have been the “Ace” of my high school and even now at college. (because he also knows my SAT score and stuff…) I just laughed and said that that isn’t true. There aren’t those kind of titles here in America unlike Korea or China.

Not gonna lie, that made me happy that he thinks that because he kept saying it, saying that I was being too modest.

Dad wanted to take a pic of us looking at the yearbooks. Look at us all shy like haha

Me showing him my elementary yearbook photos

When it was time to go drop him back at his home-stay place, I tagged along and we all chatted again and stuff. Then, we happened to see the crowd-filled Angel Stadium and it was quite the sight to see!

When we were saying goodbye once we got to his home, it was a bit sad. In the car he kept asking questions about whether I was coming back to California after Italy or if I would be going straight to Boston. He was happy to find out that I’d be here for Christmas and I was actually very happy too. I still am excited to think that he will be spending Christmas with us.

Just like family, the way it should be.

The three of us (yes my dad was still there too) hugged multiple times after he showed me his room and said goodbye. And it was just a bit sad, but it really isn’t goodbye. (as cliche as this sounds). It’s until next time. It’s just 4 months after all (as he told me). So until then, can’t wait to see how he grows in America and how I grow as well in Italy~

I have been updating my Study abroad blog as I prepare for my departure. Today is D-16!!

I’ve been teaching myself Italian have started to post some dialogues that I have typed up as practice from my own knowledge onto the site. Hopefully, by doing this, I will improve in my Italian as well as the chatting that I have been doing with native speakers who live in Italy.

I really should post onto here some of my other adventures that I have been doing here as well…but I’m so caught up in the Italian language, culture, and people!

–SnohPsalms 104: 1-4 – “Praise the Lord, my soul. Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.”Minji Noh’s MusicShields of Strength